The Kentucky Summative Assessments (KSA) evaluate student proficiency in core academic subjects based on the Kentucky Academic Standards. Administered annually, these assessments provide reliable insight into how well students understand grade-level content and support ongoing monitoring of academic progress across years.
What You’ll See in KSA Scoring
KSA scoring consists of multiple components that offer a comprehensive view of student performance:
- Raw Score – The total number of correct responses. There are no penalties for incorrect answers.
- Scale Score – The raw score is converted into a scale score to account for variations in test form difficulty. Scale score ranges differ by subject and grade level.
- Performance Level – Each student is placed into one of four performance categories based on their scale score. These levels describe how well students demonstrate mastery of grade-level standards.
KSA Performance Levels
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Distinguished – Demonstrates a deep and comprehensive understanding of grade-level content.
- Exceeds expectations
- Applies knowledge in complex contexts
- Uses advanced reasoning and self-correction
- Ready for accelerated instruction
-
Proficient – Shows solid understanding and consistent application of grade-level skills.
- Meets expectations with minimal support
- Applies concepts accurately in familiar situations
- On track for college and career readiness
-
Apprentice – Displays partial understanding with inconsistent application.
- Needs guidance to apply concepts
- May struggle with complex tasks
- Requires additional support to meet proficiency
-
Novice – Shows limited understanding and difficulty with core content.
- Frequently makes errors or omissions
- Requires significant remediation
- Needs targeted intervention
Performance levels are descriptive and may vary slightly by subject area. For detailed descriptors by content area, refer to the official Kentucky Summative Assessment website.
How to Interpret KSA Scores
KSA results offer more than just a score. They provide insight into learning outcomes and instructional impact:
- Identify students who may be at risk or in need of academic support
- Group students for differentiated instruction or enrichment
- Measure growth by comparing performance across multiple testing years
Best Practices
- Review performance level descriptors – Understand what skills students demonstrated at each level to support meaningful instruction.
- Use results with other data – Combine KSA data with grades, classroom assessments, and formative tools to build a complete academic profile.
- Monitor progress over time – While KSA is not a pre-/post-test, comparing annual results can reveal trends and instructional impact.
Summary
KSA scoring provides educators and administrators with clear, actionable data about student achievement and progress. Understanding performance levels and using them alongside other instructional data helps ensure students receive the support they need to succeed.
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